Wow! What an amazing tour! My family and I booked a 1-hour boat tour with Toronto Harbour Tours…read morebefore our flight back home and we were very pleased with the service. The narrator had great energy and you can tell she either really loved her job or she enjoyed telling customers the history of the Toronto waterfront. I can't quite remember her name (apologies!) but our tour was on 05/27/19 at noon and our crew (especially the girl who gave the narration) had amazing humor, charm, and sass. We had also missed our 11am tour because we ran late in storing our luggage at a nearby storage locker and the staff person at the window had no issues rescheduling us for the 12pm tour. Amazing!

We did the 1 hour harbor tour and really enjoyed it! We had many great views of the skyline and…read moreenjoyed seeing the islands as well. The two person crew did a great job both driving the boat and talking about the sights we were seeing. I enjoyed learning a bit more about the city. One heads up...the stairs down into the main seating area are extremely steep. It's only a few, and the railings are sturdy, but for someone with balance or mobility challenges this could be hard. It might be worth calling ahead to see if space on the small back upper level is prioritized for those who can't navigate the stairs.

Explore Buffalo-American Architecture Tour with docent Kevin Bennett…read more Absolutely great. The tour is packed with interesting and unknown facts for every building. We are very fortunate to have such great architecture in our city. Our docent was extremely knowledgeable and very personable. Kevin wanted to share his knowledge with you and answer any questions you would have. A great experience! Thank you!

We had a group of 6 do the Allentown Mob tour. Our wonderful docent was Kathy…read more The tour started outside of Cafe 59 and it was easy to spot Kathy and she was very friendly. It's a 2 hour walking tour, and you'll stop at various buildings to learn about the who, what, when's of what went down there. For example, you will stop at a building and hear about how organized crime controlled laborers local 210. You will see where certain made men were gunned down. Explore Buffalo is a nonprofit run by volunteers; be kind and leave a tip if you enjoyed your tour! I look forward to going on another tour with Explore Buffalo and learning more about our great city!

Three different tours are offered for Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings on the property. You can sign…read moreup for a one-hour docent-lead tour, a two-hour docent-led tour, or an architectural tour led by an architect. The docents are volunteers and your admission fee is used completely for restoration of the facilities. There is a wonderful museum store with a wide selection of relevant gifts. Your admission fee can be as low as free because this museum participates in Time Travelers Reciprocal Program, Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program, Frank Lloyd Wright Reciprocal Program, North American Reciprocal Museum Program, & Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums. Discounts at the museum store may be available, as well. If you are a Frank Llyod Write fan, or just want something pleasant and educational to do, this museum is worth a visit. Graycliff is accessible by NFTA Metro bus #76, by automobile, and by bicycle.

Beautiful complex wonderful historic tour like stepping g back in time . The gift shop is beautiful…read moreand well appointed. I have been back 3x and each time I find something now to admire

I did a tour of Graycliff as part of the All Day All Wright tour a while ago anat that time it was…read moreinteresting but also a bit disappointing both because the renovations were ongoing and we arrived late due to traffic so the tour was cut short. Seeing online that Graycliff had just opened a new visitor center and was in full swing I decided to make a one day trip to see it again. Located about a half hour southwest of Buffalo and about an hour northeast of Erie, Graycliff sit right on the Lake Erie shore. There is a small sign at the end of the long drive that leads you to the new visitor center. The center is set up just outside the area that Wright designed. The center is very modern but it does have elements that are inspired by Wright, the horizontal lines of the building, the glass that allows you to see through the building is similar to Graycliff. Inside there is a very nice gift shop, some interesting exhibits and an unusual unisex bathroom. I had signed up for the extended tour and we had a nice group who all had some experience with Wright before, including one guy who had done extensive work in building the new visitor center. The tour starts in the visitor center with a very well made video giving some of the history of Wright, the Martins and Graycliff. After that we went through the Picking Garden which was very attractive and smelled wonderful. We then learned about the layout of the outside, including that the driveway was oriented to track the movement of the sun on the summer solstice. We were also informed about the history of the site, the local materials being used and the history of the house after the Martins had to give it up. We also were told about the water features and how the house was oriented to allow views through the house to see the lake. Although this was the 3rd project Darwin Martin had hired Wright for (the Darwin Martin House and the Larkin Company Adminstration Building were the others) here the client was Mrs. Martin and this was to be a summer house so the overall design is a bit unique. The timing of the project was also crucial as Wright had finished his Prairie Style and the Usonian style was not yet developed. Wright had also gone through a number of personal issues and public scandals so this commission was helpful in bridging a difficult period. Once inside Graycliff you realize that there are many common Wright elements, the use of natural materials, the importance of the hearth as the heart of the house and how he had opened up the common areas with a flow. Graycliff is unique in how it is oriented to the lake with huge windows on both sides. We also got to see the second floor and the second floor of the smaller second house that initially was the garage and chauffeur's quarters and later used by Martin's daughter's family. I have to compliment our docent Brian who did a great job of guiding us through the house and property while supplying information, pointing out details and just being very entertaining. Wright was a complex person, while a genius and visionary he also had personal issues and could be difficult to work with, Brian gave a nice balanced view of Wright, his relationship to the Martins and how Graycliff came to be, plus its history and restoration. On my previous visit I had enjoyed Graycliff, but also found it a bit disappointing, this visit reflects the great job that has been done on finishing the restoration and furnishing the property to best effect. While not as flashy as some of the better know Wright designs, Graycliff is well worth a visit for its historical significance to Wright and to see how he was in transition and developing new and different ideas. A great visit and I am so glad I took the time for a second visit.

Graycliff is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's residential designs and is often regarded as the bridge…read morebetween his Prairie houses of the early 1900s and later masterpieces, such as Fallingwater (I look forward to visiting one day). Designed by Wright for Isabelle and Darwin D. Martin (and unlike the Martin house, which you should also visit), the estate sits on an 8.5-acre bluff overlooking Lake Erie. It's about 25 miles southwest of Buffalo, New York. And I did not realize this important tidbit: the gardens and landscape designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, who worked with Wright. The property was built between 1926 and 1931 as the summer home for the Martin family. Also, Graycliff is a New York State Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Importnat note: the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House and Graycliff Conservancy are two separate nonprofits -- I did not know that before my visit. The two even have distinct missions. But they each have the common goal to preserve and share the history of the Martin family and Wright's work. I highly recommend visiting both sites. And be sure to check the schedule and tour times. Outside of the welcome center, gift shop and adjacent garden, you must sign up for a paid tour to see the rest of the buildings on site. In the central house, Wright effectively dissolved the traditional boundary between indoors and outdoors. There is local limestone, ochre stucco and cedar shingles and, if you keep a watchful eye, you will see Wright's designs at work: triangles, circles, hearts, diamond-shapes and other shapes are embedded and featured throughout the grounds and in the architecture. Graycliff was also personally significant for Wright. During the mid-1920s his career and finances were in turmoil. The Martins, longtime friends as well as clients, commissioned Graycliff at a moment when relatively few of Wright's designs were being built. Over time, many architectural historians view the project as helping sustain his practice during one of the most difficult periods of his life. And last interesting tidbit: The Martin family owned the property until after Isabelle and Darwin died. It was sold in 1951 to the Piarist Fathers, an order of Roman Catholic Priests from Hungary. They lived in and used Graycliff until 1997 (even built buildings and structures), when the property was sold. Graycliff was actual set to be demolished for condominiums -- can you imagine?! A few tips for your visit: -If you are driving a larger vehicle (large trucks, RV's, camper vans, vehicles pulling trailers, call in advance. The team will work to accommodate your vehicle. Do not miss the brand new visitor center. It has interactive educational features, an informative video and an excellent gift shop, with snacks on site. -Parking is out front at no cost. -A portion of all tours is outside, rain or shine. -Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable walking shoes. -Apparently, stiletto heels are not allowed in the main house to protect the restored floor. -Only service animals are allowed on the grounds.

This current bridge broke ground in 2015 after plans were announced to build it on November 29th,…read more2011. The bridge was completed in 2017. The bridge replaced a steel trestle built in 1875 by the Erie Railroad. The sad thing is, the state was given the opportunity to convert the old trestle to a pedestrian crosswalk, but they refused citing a lack of funding. Those two foundations are all that remain of the old bridge; all the other remaining pieces were scrapped. Please note, this is an active railroad bridge, DO NOT TRESPASS!!!

The Niagara Parks Power Station is truly the best way to view up close and personal this natural…read morelandmark without actually heading onto one of those tour boats. On the top floor, you're presented with exhibits highlighting how energy is used to power the area and how the falls contribute to that flow of electricity. There were some fun moments of learning that I'd say were suited for kids 10 years and up. The real gem is the underground walking path that takes you right to the falls for a truly unique feel. We spent a good amount of time taking in the sites and seeing how massive the falls were compared to our small bodies. Be prepared for a little bit of moisture and splash back from the waves. While admission may seem steep at first at $35, it really was worth it to get such a wonderful view of the falls. I'd highly recommend this to anyone visiting Niagara Falls and wanting to commit to one of the major attractions for great views.

The Power Station/Tunnel at Night is an absolute blast. The presentation/montage projected on the…read morewall is a fun little time, especially for little ones. The tunnel also offers a little bit of a cool down as it's a consistent 60 degrees, so if you've been exploring Niagara during the day, it offers a little bit of a respite and cool down. It's also about a 5-minute walk, so prepare for that before you can get to the deck. It's another one of the spots where you really just get misted, and the poncho is sufficient. It's one of those things where something so simple can bring so much happiness. It's just a dimly lit old power station and a tunnel leading to an observation deck. There are comparable observation decks that are free, but walking the tunnel and hearing and seeing water leaking in, and after walking, coming to the opening and seeing the deck, it's just a fun time.

Was really looking forward to this, as my wife and are interested in supernatural stories. However,…read moreour guide basically talked about architecture and even then, he got a lot of it wrong. We were also annoyed at his reference to Roycroft Inn workers getting stoned and calling one of his ex-girlfriends, a "sweet young thing". Really kind of sexist and not funny at all. About the best that could be said was that the tour was shortened to 60 minutes instead of 90.

Larkinville Ghost Walk - went on the October 5, 2019 ghost walk. I DO NOT recommend this walk. My…read morefamily and I have attended similar walks in Cape Cod and North Carolina and found them entertaining. This walk was a history tour at best - no talks of hauntings, ghosts or paranormal. Not scary at all. Further, the group leader was ill prepared, his audio device didn't work (so the large audience in attendance couldn't hear him) and he was not aware of the path, surprised by construction, he seemed to make it up as he went. Some history, no jokes, no spooks ... bummer, my family and out of town guests were so looking forward to this. I think it has potential with better prep, richer story telling and new batteries in the portable microphone - I recommend a different walk - this one disappointed !!!

There aren't many city halls as majestic and beautiful as Buffalo's…read more It has a unique profile and makes the skyline magical. If you have the opportunity, take one of the free guided tours so you can learn more about the history, architecture and building of this masterpiece. There are so many incredible details and so much outstanding art. You can view it on your own (there is some signage about what it is) but you really get a better understanding and experience if you take one of the tours. They are offered on weekdays at noon and are free! The 13th floor houses the council chambers and there is a gorgeous sunburst skylight that is absolutely worth seeing. The thing not to miss is the observation deck. The views from the 28th floor are simply spectacular! You will have to take some stairs to reach the observation level, so keep that in mind if you have difficulty with mobility. Whether you tour the inside or just catch a glimpse from the street of the majestic columns and imposing structure, don't come to Buffalo and miss a visit to City Hall!

It was a FREE 1-1/2 hour toured with an experienced guide from Explore Buffalo. Buffalo has so…read moremany beautiful buildings, having been designed by the most famous artists and architects of the time, don't waste a minute - go explore. Don't miss the climb to get a birds-eye view of the city's radial layout

This is a historic site often barely mentioned in passing in guidebooks and brochures for Niagara…read moreFalls, and apparently off the beaten path but not entirely hidden, it's well worth a visit (and free of charge!). Parking is not a concern since the power plant site is adjacent to the Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre/Niagara Gorge Trailhead Building and the parking lot for it. Entering the stone structure, there's a big lift ahead, which will take you right down to the ground level where you're free to explore whatever is left of the once-active power station. Walk a little further down and you'll also get a wide angle view of the Rainbow Bridge and, of course, the grand Niagara River. There are brochures, maps, coupons, and guidebooks for nearby attractions and businesses once you're back up on the upper ground level where you took the lift, and the booklet with black and white pictures about the history of the site and the disaster in 1956 is another treat.

When we first visited this site, we thought it was simply the remains of an old power plant. We…read morewere attracted to it by a call of a peregrine falcon. He was next to the building, past a fenced area, calling to other peregrines. We looked around and left. The next day we returned to look around more, and we saw a group of fishermen disappear inside. Intriguing! We followed them in. Inside was an elevator - with directions - that took us down to a shoreline. The fishermen who rode down with us told us they would walk along it to find a spot to fish. But they weren't going to keep the fish. Said they weren't good for eating. They would release whatever they caught. We saw along the wall of the base of the power plant huge panels of information about it. We also saw part of the American Falls when we walked down to the water. When we went back up, we saw a plaque in front of the building, praising those whose efforts led to hydro-electric power. Glad we stopped both days.